Journal article
Microbial evolution and transitions along the parasite-mutualist continuum
- Abstract:
- Virtually all plants and animals, including humans, are home to symbiotic microorganisms. Symbiotic interactions can be neutral, harmful or have beneficial effects on the host organism. However, growing evidence suggests that microbial symbionts can evolve rapidly, resulting in drastic transitions along the parasite–mutualist continuum. In this Review, we integrate theoretical and empirical findings to discuss the mechanisms underpinning these evolutionary shifts, as well as the ecological drivers and why some host–microorganism interactions may be stuck at the end of the continuum. In addition to having biomedical consequences, understanding the dynamic life of microorganisms reveals how symbioses can shape an organism’s biology and the entire community, particularly in a changing world.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
-
-
(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 809.3KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1038/s41579-021-00550-7
Authors
- Publisher:
- Springer Nature
- Journal:
- Nature Reviews Microbiology More from this journal
- Volume:
- 19
- Pages:
- 623-638
- Publication date:
- 2021-04-19
- Acceptance date:
- 2021-03-12
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1740-1534
- ISSN:
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1740-1526
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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1168814
- Local pid:
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pubs:1168814
- Deposit date:
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2021-03-19
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Springer Nature Ltd.
- Copyright date:
- 2021
- Rights statement:
- © Springer Nature Limited 2021.
- Notes:
- This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Springer Nature at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-021-00550-7
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